ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester City School District lowered its budget estimate for the 2026-27 school year, reducing it from $1.161 billion to $1.157 billion. The change reflects a reduction in state aid coming into the district.
City Council made a symbolic vote against the school district’s budget. Six of the nine members voted no, with one yes vote and two abstentions from members who work for the district.
Some council members who voted no said they didn’t feel comfortable voting yes while the district was making amendments. “While we sit here in chambers tonight, not too far away from us, RCSD is currently amending their budget yet again. The budget in front of us, for the fourth time, is not the budget they plan to go into effect July 1,” Melendez said.
“In good conscience, on that principle alone, I cannot vote on this budget,” Melendez said.
Other council members had problems with the district’s planned staff and program cuts. “While I appreciate that many of those positions were restored, I still have questions about why they were proposed for elimination in the first place, and whether or not alternatives were ever considered,” Smith said.
Councilmember Mitch Gruber gave the sole yes vote. The vote was symbolic and holds no real sway over the district.
While City Council met, the RCSD Board of Education was also meeting, partly to amend the budget and partly for the monthly public forum, in which a number of people expressed concerns about the future of programs in the district, in particular a nature-based learning program at Edison Career and Technology High School.
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